University of North Texas
Baylor
Bradshaw Posts Game-Winning Hit
3/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON, Texas (3/16/11) - Senior Courtney Bradshaw posted the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the North Texas softball team to a 9-8 victory against No. 18 Baylor on Wednesday night at Lovelace Stadium. North Texas lost the first game of the doubleheader, 6-1.
The Mean Green extends its overall record to 13-11, while Baylor stands at 24-4. The Bears lead the series versus North Texas, 7-4, but the Mean Green has won three of the last four. North Texas has defeated two nationally-ranked teams in the last four days.
With Baylor holding an 8-7 lead, Lisa Johnson reached base with a walk in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Mean Green. Lesley Hirsch advanced her to second with a bunt single. After Hayley Siebman pinch ran for Johnson, Bradshaw brought both runners home with a single to the gap in right centerfield. Hirsch beat the throw home to score the game-winning run.
Mallory Cantler gave North Texas a 4-0 lead in the third inning with a grand slam, the first of her career. She becomes the fourth player in school history to record a grand slam. Cantler went 2-for-5 in the game with four RBI. Bradshaw led off the inning with a single. She went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Baylor quickly tied the game in the top of the fourth with four runs off three hits.
Bradshaw led off the bottom of the fourth with a single. After a Brooke Foster single and a sacrifice bunt by Megan Rupp, Monica Hirsch knocked in a run with an RBI single. Mariza Martinez brought home two more runs with a double to extend the Mean Green's lead to 7-4.
Baylor pecked away at the lead with solo runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning. An RBI single tied the game for the Bears in the seventh. Baylor took the lead in the top of the ninth with an RBI double.
Ashley Kirk (6-5) picked up the win in relief. She pitched four innings and allowed two runs off three hits. Brittany Simmons started the game, pitched five innings and allowed five runs off eight hits.
Kirk took the loss in the first game. She pitched only two innings and allowed four runs off six hits. Lauren Poole and Mallory Cantler both pitched in relief.
Whitney Canion pitched a complete game in the opening win for Baylor and allowed just one unearned run off five hits. She struck out eight Mean Green batters. She picked up her third loss of the season in the second game, allowing two runs off two hits in 2.2 innings of work.
After Baylor took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, North Texas quickly scored the tying run off a Bears error. Baylor used three runs in the second and two more in the fifth to stay ahead of the Mean Green.
North Texas returns to action on Friday, March 18 when it faces Middle Tennessee on the road at 1 p.m.
